Local civil rights commission mired in lack of support
By RYAN BRINKS, TIMES-REPUBLICAN
POSTED: February 28, 2008
The Marshalltown Human Rights Commission and others like it across the state are battling to break out of a cycle of ineffectiveness, according to discussion during its latest meeting Tuesday.
“We have no cases because we have no advertising and publicity because we have no funding and because we have no staff,” said commission member Joan Jaimes. “... I feel a tremendous need to get funding and better structure and part-time staff and be able to advertise and get publicity or get rid of the commission because we have no funding.”
The seven-seat commission is currently seeking two more members to fill vacancies as well as pondering a request from the state civil rights commission for an opinion on that very question — whether to disband the smaller local commissions or push for state funding.
The Marshalltown commission, representing everyone county-wide, most recently championed passage of a school district policy that specifically protected students who are bullied or harassed because of their sexual orientation.
The commission also has hopes to re-evaluate the anti-discrimination policies at city hall and the police department.
Besides needing a full commission, resources are a major obstacle to the group being able to fulfill its mission to protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace and in public services.
“How are we going to support them?” Jaimes asked. “We have no counsel and no one to do paperwork.”
Members gave no recommendations and are expected to continue the conversation in the future. The mayor-appointed commission meets on the last Tuesday of every month in city hall.
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Contact Ryan Brinks at 641-753-6611 or rbrinks@timesrepublican.com
